Next summer, 25 students in Chicago will get a chance to conduct hands-on research through a new program at the Comprehensive Cancer Center. With a $1.9 million grant over the next five years from the National Cancer Institute, the Cancer Center will launch Chicago EYES (Educators and Youth Enjoy Science) on Cancer, a program to provide immersive laboratory and research training for high school and undergraduate students. More >>
Could delaying removal of ovaries prevent or delay sexual dysfunction in women who are at high risk for developing ovarian cancer? Iris Romero, MD, launched a study with researchers at other leading institutions to answer this question. More >>
WomanLab aims to remove the stigma around discussing sexual function after cancer treatment. The new initiative at UChicago is directed by Stacy Tessler Lindau, MD, who also runs the Program in Integrative Sexual Medicine (PRISM) for Women and Girls with Cancer. Learn more at womanlab.org
With a $4.7 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, UChicago’s Globus and leading researchers will build new protected cancer research networks that enable collaborations while keeping sensitive health data secure and private. More >>
UChicago researchers were able to improve the performance of immunotherapies by developing peptides — chains of amino acids — that could anchor anti-cancer drugs within or adjacent to the tumor environment. More >>
“My mother’s struggle with cancer caused me to reflect on where my career would go next,” said Elliott Sigal, who entered the Pritzker School of Medicine determined to pursue interdisciplinary research that might someday be life changing for other families.
Sigal went on to have a successful career with Bristol-Myers Squibb where, under his leadership, more than 12 new medicines were brought to market. Among these was the first checkpoint inhibitor for cancer immunotherapy.
This year, the Sigals endowed UChicago’s first fellowship in cancer immunotherapy, and established the Elliott Sigal Immuno-Oncology Lectureship. More >>
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
UChicago cancer researchers honored as leaders in field
Chuan He, PhD, a researcher in the Department of Chemistry, is one of three recipients of this year’s Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research. The award recognizes promising investigators aged 45 or younger for their efforts in advancing cancer research. More >>
Two UChicago cancer researchers, Seungmin Hwang, PhD, and Raymond Moellering, PhD, received NIH Director's Innovator Awards from the National Institutes of Health’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research program. The program funded 86 awards to exceptionally creative scientists proposing to use highly innovative approaches to tackle major challenges in biomedical research. More >>
FOUNDATION NEWS
Pictured above (from left to right): Mary Ellen Connellan, Elizabeth Dunkel Ryan, Michelle Le Beau, PhD, Karen Riley McEniry, and Kristi Nuelle
An annual celebration of breakthroughs
On Saturday, November 11, the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation (UCCRF) Women’s Board together with Ogilvy and Mather, Ralph Lauren, and Verdura hosted the 51st Annual The Breakthrough Ball at the Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago, raising $1.5 million to help support cancer research. Guests bid on silent and live auction prizes, participated in a phenomenal paddle raise, and continued the celebration by listening to GRAMMY-award winner Colbie Caillat followed by DJ Megan Taylor.
For more than 70 years, the Women’s Board has been providing seed funding to support some of the most leading-edge research at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center.
UPCOMING EVENTS
UCCRF Auxiliary Board
Annual Gala
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Double Tree
Skokie, IL
UCCRF Associates Board
Fund the Fight Gala
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Columbia Yacht Club
Chicago, IL
